'57 Chevy Bel Air - An American Icon

Think of a car that represents American car culture, or even automotive culture in general, and you'll be hard-pressed to find one more iconic than the '57 Chevy Bel Air. From the aircraft-inspired hood ornaments, to the sweeping wheel arches, to the raked tail fins, every element of this car's design is eye-catching and memorable. There really is no angle from which the Bel Air doesn't look good, and that's a claim few cars have lived up to since. In fact, this car has been around for over half a century, but it still remains relevant and undeniably cool.

Think of a car that represents American car culture, or even automotive culture in general, and you'll be hard-pressed to find one more iconic than the '57 Chevy Bel Air. From the aircraft-inspired hood ornaments, to the sweeping wheel arches, to the raked tail fins, every element of this car's design is eye-catching and memorable. There really is no angle from which the Bel Air doesn't look good, and that's a claim few cars have lived up to since. In fact, this car has been around for over half a century, but it still remains relevant and undeniably cool.

The immaculate '57 Bel Air seen here belongs to Murray Ralls, of Lakewood, California. It features an original-style restoration with a few custom touches, and is powered by a 283ci V8 and Tremec 5-speed manual transmission. Aside from the transmission swap, dual-exit exhaust, and a few other subtle modifications, the car appears to be mostly stock. We've seen our fair share of resto-modded Tri-Fives, so it's refreshing to see one that retains the original look. And honestly, this car doesn't need anything else—it's just about perfect as-is.

We could go on and on about the Tri-Five and its long-lasting impact on what it means to be a car guy, but this is one instance where we think the photos speak for themselves. This Matador Red coupe is art on wheels, full stop.

If you've got a Tri-Five Chevy—whether it's a 150, 210, Bel Air, or Nomad—Classic Industries has the parts you need to make it look its best. In fact, we offer an entire catalog dedicated to the '55-'57 cars, featuring thousands of restoration and performance parts and accessories. Click here to order a free catalog for your car.

A little about Classic

Recognized as the undisputed leader of the Restoration Parts industry, Classic Industries is one of the largest and respected distributors of reproduction, performance and original GM and MOPAR parts and accessories in the industry. Located in Huntington Beach, California, Classic Industries has provided over 1,000,000 customers with parts and accessories they've needed to restore their vehicles for over four decades.